Welsh sprinter Christian Malcolm has resigned himself to missing out on an historic fifth Commonwealth Games after failing to achieve the qualification standard and is now considering whether he has run his last race.

Malcolm failed to qualify for the final of the 200m at the Welsh Championships and Commonwealth Games Trials in Cardiff as he finished third in his heat in a time of 21.96 secs.

In his first race since 2012, Malcolm ran 22.17secs in the 200m in the Riga Cup in Latvia last Thursday.

Malcolm missed the whole of last season because of an Achilles injury and has not reached the required Commonwealth Games standard and needed to achieve this by Sunday.

The 34-year-old needed either to post an ‘A’ time of 20.50secs or two ‘B’ efforts of 20.85s to qualify for Glasgow, unless he is handed more time by the selectors who meet to discuss the Commonwealth Games squad on Sunday night.

Malcolm, who turns 35 on Tuesday, has competed in four Olympics and a quartet of Commonwealth Games for Wales stretching back to 1998 in Malaysia where he picked up a silver as a teenager, and also won a 200m bronze in Delhi four years ago.

Malcolm admitted he was not expected to be granted a special case and selected for Glasgow.

“I play by the rules,” said Malcolm, who reached two Olympics finals in 2000 and 2008 in Sydney and Beijing.

“The selection process says you have to achieve times by June 1 and I have not done that.

“People are saying it’s down to the head coaches discretion and if you can prove a bit of fitness and past history maybe you can be nominated.

“But I understand Scott Simpson is not willing to do that. He has set a bit of a standard now and there is no better way than enforcing that than making an example of someone who is a bit of a name.

“That might be the case, I don’t know.

“I don’t even know how the protest system works but I would not protest because that’s not my style.”

But Malcolm believes he could peak for Glasgow 2014 if given the chance.

“The good thing is that my Achilles is good and not hurting,” said Malcolm.

“Physically I feel better and know I can kick on from here.

“I raced in Riga and was very tentative because it was the first time I have sprinted out of the blocks in 18 months.

“Cardiff was a lot better and I know the next time I would run it would be a lot better again and I would make big steps.

“I could be ready in two months time.

“I know I have a history of getting ready in eight weeks and feel as if I could do that.

“In the Commonwealths, I’ve a history and respect on the circuit with people knowing once I am there and fit I can do some damage.

“I would like to think my history and my career speaks for itself.

“I have come back from many injuries and managed to get things right.

“I have proved I have backed up what I have said but it’s down to the selectors.”

Malcolm admitted this might be his last race if he was not selected for Glasgow 2014 because he had no ambitions of competing in the British Trials or European Championships.

“The only competition I was interested in this year was the Commonwealths,” added Malcolm.

“It is a difficult motivation now for me to get ready for the rest of the season.

“I have never been one to run for money because it’s always been about major championships.

“I wouldn’t want that to be the end but it’s hard to find the motivation to run the rest of the season and the intensity wouldn’t be there.

“But I am not making that decision about whether this will be my final race.”

Malcolm has been a lone shining light in Welsh sprinting over the last 15 years but believes the future is brighter.

“I have not been beaten at many Welsh Championships but people know that was not me,” said Malcolm, who holds the Welsh record of 20.08secs.

“I have realised that coming back from injury you have to learn to take hidings and eat humble pie at the beginning.

“I am willing to do that.

“But the sprinting has been fantastic and it's good to see people coming through,

“Welsh Athletics are slowly getting their act together and Matt Elias has done a good job with the sprinters.

“Turning the races around running with the wind behind the sprinters has given them a bit more self-belief and that is all they want.”

Malcolm admitted he was unsure what he would do in retirement.

“I have a couple of things in the pipeline but I want to stay involved in sport,” said Malcolm.

“There have not been sports people in Wales who have been successful in getting through to the senior ranks.

“I feel as if I have seen so many mistakes been made at elite sport in Wales which could be easily corrected.

“We have talent in this country but we need to set the foundations to enable them to come through.

“I never went on an aeroplane until I was 17 and after that I was on a plane 23 times a year.

“That’s what the sport has given me.

“I have had the opportunity to meet people and learn and I have a great life.

“I see a lot of kids who I have grown up with who have not had that opportunity.

“I have always said aim for the stars because it’s better from where you started from.

“There was one guy who they said was going to be the next Christian Malcolm.

“He was from Newport but I see him now and he is a crack head on the streets.

"This kid head had real talent. I would like to give people the chance and help them on the right path."

There have been 23 athletes who have achieved the qualification standards for Glasgow 2014.